Goal-fests featured in the United Counties League Premier North, for Hucknall Town and Kimberley Miners Welfare, as both gave their fans a lot to shout about on Saturday afternoon.

Both languishing in the bottom half of the division, Hucknall, sitting fourteenth, are within four points of the top ten, after a more-than-comfortable, 6-1 win, away to Melton Town.

The opening goal arrived inside the opening fifteen minutes, Taylor Jaine played a perfect pass for Niall Towle, and the Yellows striker finished well; somehow, the hosts got back in the game ten minutes before the interval when Kallis Gore netted from the spot.

The visiting Yellows restored their advantage on the stroke of half-time when a defensive mistake is punished, the ball finding its way to Bradley Wells, who wasted little time in notching the second, and an interval lead.

Within minutes of the restart and two quickly became three, and then four, as the visitors moved through the gears; first it was Luis Parkes who drove the ball low and hard into the bottom corner, then, shortly after, Towle grabbed his second of the afternoon with a back post control and finish.

Luke Jeffery was called into action just after the hour mark to deny the hosts a goalscoring opportunity, and, ten minutes later, Towle was denied by the home shot-stopper after he’d broken a few challenges to put himself through.

Aaron Lamb curled home a beautiful fifth into the top corner with thirteen minutes remaining, before the hat-trick finally came, in stoppage time, with the Yellows on cruise control.

Chae Whitman-Brown had replaced Bradley Wells as a trio of changes were made just before the hour and, as the game moved into stoppage time, it was he that was fouled in the home box, Towle stepping up to complete his hat-trick, and a 6-1 rout.

Hucknall Town – Luke Jeffery, Cashmere Rowe, Dillon Rawson, Max Scoular, Taylor Jaine, Reece Sugars, Ethan Hulley, Luis Parkes, Niall Towle, Bradley Wells, Surafel Tefera (Jordan Ashurst, Bradley Lathall, Aaron Lamb, Solace Uyi-Olaye, Chae Whitman-Brown)

In Kimberley, the lowly Miners Welfare moved out of the relegation zone in fine style, they easing past visiting Sleaford Town 4-0, and are now within three of Gresley Rovers and Deeping Rangers, directly above them in the table.

Two goals in each half gave the hosts the points, Oliver Seeby and Lewis Patridge netting within ten, first half minutes, Finn Ryder with a penalty early in the second, and Paul Johnson with a late fourth to complete the scoring.

The top two both won, 2-1, on the road, leaders Eastwood CFC doing so at Skegness Town thanks to goals from Declan Dunn and Craig Westcarr, whilst Bourne Town won by the same when at play-off chasing AFC Mansfield.

Newark Town moved above Mansfield on goal-difference after they drew 2-2 at Belper United, turning round a half-time deficit thanks to goals from Louis Czerwak and Andrew Tsokalis, whilst mid-table Newark & Sherwood United won 2-0 at home to Deeping Rangers, Kieran Cummings and Marley Fearon netting, and Shirebrook Town drew 1-1 at home to Wisbech Town, Jack Dolman scoring for the hosts.

Clay Cross Town lead Retford on goal-difference at the top of Division One after both picked up victories, the former winning 1-0 at Clipstone, the latter seeing off visitors Clifton All Whites 5-0, Jacob Priestnall with a second half brace alongside goals from Iren Wilson, Steve Wankiewicz, and Liam Bennett.

Radford fired seven in an emphatic, 7-0 home win over Rainworth Miers Welfare, Conor Moore and Tyrell Shannon both bagging braces, and bottom club Sandiacre Town won 3-1 against Dunkirk, Labrada Domini with a brace.

Elsewhere there was a 2-0 loss for Selston at home to Holwell Sports, and 1-0 defeats for West Bridgford (against Coalville Town), Gedling Miners Welfare (against Blackstones), Retford United (at Pinxton), and Stapleford Town (at Staveley Miners Welfare).

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @MW_Photography action from Hucknall’s 6-1 win at Melton.